Californians want health care reform, poll says

FIELD POLL: Health Care They disagree on how to pay for revamp

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, June 18, 2009

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California voters think the nation's health care system needs to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, but they don't necessarily embrace the major reforms proposed in Washington, a new Field Poll shows.

A robust majority - 71 percent - of registered voters said they wanted the system changed or rebuilt. That sentiment was shared across political parties, with 82 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of non-partisans and 55 percent of Republicans supporting a major overhaul.

"It needs major reworking and I do think something has to be done about how much it costs to provide medical care," said Wanda Andrus, 84, of Dublin, a self-described independent who was one of the 1,207 participants in the survey.

The poll, which was conducted between May 5 and 24, indicated a sense of urgency, with 67 percent saying now is the time to revamp the nation's health system.

"Californians, I think, are more impatient with reform than the nation as a whole. Part of that is because health reform has been on the agenda in California now for 2 1/2 years," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll, referring to the 2007 reform effort by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic leaders, which failed in the Legislature in early 2008.

President Obama has made health reform a primary goal of his administration, arguing that revamping health care is essential to improving the economy. Health care consumes nearly one-fifth of the nation's economy. About 47 million Americans lack health coverage, a number that is probably growing as more people lose their jobs and, with that, their health insurance.

Obama has proposed a public option, or a government-run plan that would serve as an alternative to private insurers for people who do not have access to coverage through their jobs or other programs. Other ideas include offering tax credits to help people buy insurance, mandating health coverage for all and requiring insurers to take all applicants, regardless of their health history.

"When it gets down to paying for this, that's where the biggest differences show up," said DiCamillo.

Sixty-six percent of Democrats polled said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to ensure health coverage for every American, while 25 percent of Republicans agreed with that statement. Among nonpartisan voters, 54 percent agreed.

Santa Clara resident Barbara Drummer, a Republican who responded to the survey, called for "fundamental changes" to the health system.

The problem hits home to Drummer, 57, who has been uninsured since she was laid off 2 1/2 years ago, shortly before she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but she doesn't believe increased taxes and government spending will solve the health care crisis. Instead, she would like to see innovative solutions from the private sector.

James Vaught, 36, of San Francisco, said he would support virtually anything that worked, including a government-run option.

Vaught, a Democrat, said both his parents, who have not yet reached the age of eligibility for Medicare, have been without health insurance for about 10 years, since one took early retirement and the other was laid off.

"Even though they worked all their lives, they're without (health coverage)," he said. "They're scared, and we're scared for them."

Corri Jimenez of San Jose said she hasn't had coverage for the past three years because she was laid off and has been doing contract work.

Jimenez, a Democrat, said she would support a mandate, as long as coverage was made affordable.

"I think everybody should be required to have health care just because it would prevent long-term problems when you become 60 or 80," she said. "I have to have coverage on my car in case somebody hits me. I should have something for myself."

The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

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